The “Lichtblickhof” – First children’s hospice with animals opened in Vienna

“If children have to live with pain and illness, they need powerful companions. The therapy horses at the Lichtblickhof give them moments when they forget their diagnosis. They are small, but all the more valuable glimmers of hope in the here and now, in which the children also laugh and feel happy. Together with our animals, we guide and relieve the families: the personal therapist is available around the clock for the family – no matter what,” explains Roswitha Zink, founder and director of the hospice facility for the little ones.

The only children’s hospice with animals in Vienna
Since June 2022, families can be cared for in the Lichtblickhaus on the site of the former Otto Wagner Hospital. A multi-professional team and volunteers accompany the families during their stay. In collaboration with doctors, therapists and nurses, they relieve the burden of care, such as changing probes, wound care and personal hygiene.

Fill the days with life
But the hospice also caters to the emotional needs of the children. With their strong backs, the therapy horses literally carry the little patients through their difficult times and to where the wheelchair can no longer be used. This brings much-needed moments of happiness into the lives of the little ones and their families. For the parents and siblings, these moments with the animals are necessary breaks to switch off and recharge the batteries. In the barrier-free apartments, the children can even have animal visits or watch the grazing horses from a ground-floor terrace. The distance to the adjacent therapy farm can be bridged in the nursing bed. The apartments are completely barrier-free, the bathroom and kitchen are wheelchair accessible.

Opening with great supporters
Animal expert “Krone” and ORF presenter Maggie Entenfellner, along with founder Roswitha Zink, led the opening, which was scheduled for the first day of June at the Austrian Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Day. The Lichtblickhof and the new housing units are especially important to the co-initiator and journalist: “When I drive to the Lichtblickhof, my heart is full of emotion. This important project shows how two- and four-legged friends can work together to help critically ill people. Every cent helps and the donations are much needed! Please help too!”

The association “Freunde der Tierecke” immediately donates 10,000 euros and Hermann Aigner from “Fressnapf Austria” makes 20,000 euros available. Because the rent and operating costs of the apartments alone cost the non-profit organization about 85,000 euros per year – and no staff has yet been paid.

Moments of happiness for terminally ill children
In Austria there are an estimated 5,000 children and young people with a life-shortening illness. There are still too few shelters for such families. Roswitha Zink is convinced: “These families are achieving great things. We fight to ensure that, despite the difficult challenge that no one chooses, they can still experience unique moments and joy together – away from pain and hospitalizations.”

Donations are desperately needed
In each of the three apartments for children’s hospice support, one family can be cared for for a period of a few days or a few weeks. The majority of therapy and care costs must be paid To donate are financed: the health insurance companies do not cover such costs for the families and the family budget is severely limited by medical treatments, medicines, etc.

It is particularly important to the team at the Lichtblickhof that all families are given this opportunity – regardless of their financial situation. The Lichtblickhaus with the two family apartments is located on the grounds of the Penzing Clinic, on the edge of the metropolis and yet in nature.